What’s Next for Next Question? How Four Teenagers Channel Their Authentic Selves Into Songwriting

Pictured above are Jack Lucian (far left), Malcolm Critchley, Sam Wilhelm, and Tenzin Shae (far right).

Next Question, the local teenage High Desert Emo band, was initially formed in June 2023 and has since become a staple in the ever evolving Reno music scene. Tenzin Shae, (bassist and vocalist), Jack Lucian, (guitarist and vocalist), Sam Wilhelm, (drummer), and Malcolm Critchley, (guitarist), have managed to not only create catchy music for their fans, but a welcoming environment that captures and fascinates listeners at all of their shows.

Maintaining a healthy and enigmatic band persona isn’t always easy but for Next Question, it’s never been a challenge. All four musicians have been friends for years and their music has only brought them closer. When asked how they maintain a fun band environment they responded saying it’s all about how you approach certain issues. 

Many bands struggle to convey criticism when trying to create new music and grow within their craft. However, Next Question doesn’t believe that criticism should be hard to share and intake during the songwriting process. “I think a big part of working together and taking criticism, provided you have a good team of bandmates, is you just gotta remember that you all have the same goal…” Lucian says. 

Remembering that you and your fellow bandmates are passionate about creating music you're proud of is key. If you keep that goal in mind, there’s no need to get defensive, sensitive, or overly intense when you're given feedback, the band says. “You want the chemistry to create something beautiful with everyone’s talents—so just keep that goal in mind and you'll create some good stuff and get along,” Lucian says. Which is obviously true because Next Question’s passion for music and each other shines through their songs. 

Pictured above is Jack Lucian playing his new guitar.

With all of the members being under 18 years old, they have to balance school, work, and songwriting. I suppose my next question is how do they manage to do it?

Despite schedule conflicts they have a pretty flawless routine. Practicing as often as they can and constantly working on improving old songs or creating new ones. They currently have seven original songs. Astigmatism, Along The Dotted Line, Cut, Lighter Nights, and Do You, which had been their newest song when it made its debut at Fort Ralston on April 13th, 2024.

Since its successful launch, Next Question fans have been craving new music and their cravings have been fed. Only five months later, on September 8th, Next Question played their seventh edition to their music repertoire. “It’s been a minute since we’ve had an original,” Shae says. If Things Go South was played for the first time at Midnight Coffee Roasting and the four couldn’t have been more stoked to perform it. 

“My reaction to that bill, my first thought was like, I feel like it’s one of the only times where we've had a lineup where they are actually local bands that are like us,” Lucian says in disbelief to playing with Reno bands, Dead Bird and Restless Romantics. Bands that also tap into a mixed bag of indie emo music genres.

Writing seven original songs with busy schedules is no easy task. When asked about their songwriting process, their answer was raw and profound, as they explained how their onstage selves are their authentic selves, not a persona put on to draw in fans. Writing the chords is mainly Wilhelm and Critchley’s job whereas Shae and Lucian contribute to the instrumental chord progression, a few guitar parts, and the song lyrics. Wilhelm also comes up with the drum parts after the other three present him with vague prompts. The only exception to this layout was on their newest song, If Things Go South, where Critchley took it upon himself to write the whole instrumental and overall structure.  

Next Question begins their band practice on a hot Sunday afternoon in Tenzin Shae's garage.

Lucian says that his lyrics are an accentuated version of himself, not his full self, but more so a certain part of his mind. His written words are confessional testaments to his real life experiences. “I’m not always thinking about breakups and parties, and whatever crap—that’s not on my mind 24/7” Lucian says, even though that’s all he sings about. His lyrics are embedded with real, raw, emotion yet they only add to an onstage authenticity that is only a fraction of Lucian himself. 

Shae, a lyricist for the band as well, attests that his lyrics originally were spaces meant for him to vent about his life frustrations. “A lot of my lyrics, and songs, and instrumentals, expressed that” Shae says in response to his first songs, filled with sadness and angst. His onstage presence is not a persona but rather a reflection of his feelings. 

The band recognises how serious some of their songs are and to counteract this, they occasionally try to ease the seriousness with humor. At one of their performances, the four musicians thought it would be funny to dedicate all of their songs to “the hot fish from Shark Tales,” in an attempt to offset the weight of their words. 

Despite the jokes, Lucian recalls Shae getting very emotional when they began playing their originals. Almost reliving the situations he had written about. “I was at the end, almost crying, like I had a tear coming, literally, in my eyes,” Shae says with a laugh, “I was confused! This is a Shark Tale Show! Like what??”

Despite the heaviness of their lyrics, Lucian recalls his father’s reaction to that night. Lucian had been in the kitchen the next morning when out of nowhere, his father said, “Lola is her name,” to which Lucian began laughing uncontrollably. “He didn’t know what the hell we were talking about, and I didnt even know her name— I hope he just typed in Shark Tales–” Lucian says through laughter.

Regardless of show bits, Next Question writes music that's genuine to themselves. They connect with their audiences through relatable moments and experiences. “I also hope everyone can apply my lyrics to their own life, that's cool too,” Lucian says. 

The band takes pride in their lyrical and musical work, saying that audiences seem to gravitate towards their newer songs a lot faster now than they used to. In the past, they would play original songs multiple times before a couple of people would recognize it and identify with it. Nowadays, songs like, Do You, have gotten recognition after just one show! Their music has drawn in loyal fans such as Owen Daniels, who knows every lyric to Do You by heart. 

Shae laughs as he recalls their show a couple weeks prior, explaining how he messed up a line and was surprised when Owen didn’t. “I found that very interesting. But—I also kind of realized like, oh my god, people are listening to what I’m saying…” it felt for Shae as if the audience could truly hear him and see him, which made the thought of releasing music that much more nerve wracking.

Most of the lyrics in Next Question’s songs are directly related to very intimate conflicts or stories within their personal lives. Not even all the members know what certain songs are about. That being said, a new wave of nervousness has overcome the band. Putting such passionate and personal music out there can be very scary. 

However, local musicians Wyatt Ziegler and Jack Nady have been pushing the young band to pursue their music dreams. Lucian says that the two of them have pushed Next Question in the studio to experiment and make their music more interesting. “They’ve given us ideas, a kind of older, more experienced take on what to do with our stuff,” Shae says. 

It’s safe to say that the Reno Music Scene is always banding together to help uplift each other. With the band chemistry, kindness, and talent Next Question has, it’s clear to everyone that the future of local music is in good hands. 

Expect a Christmas present from Next Question within the next couple of months as they aim to release an EP in late December or early next year.

Reporting by Lauren Juillerat for Biggest Little Bands with photos by Jack Barrington.

10.17.24